The president took to social media to justify his decision, stating that “many people whom I greatly respect” believe Hernandez was “treated very harshly and unfairly.”

Last March, Hernandez was found guilty by a U.S. court on charges of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States. Hernandez previously served two terms as the president of Honduras, a Central American country with a population of about ten million.

As her term nears its end, Honduran President Xiomara Castro, who has embraced a leftist agenda, has nevertheless maintained a pragmatic and cooperative relationship with the U.S. government. Her administration has welcomed visits from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Army General Laura Richardson, the former commander of the U.S. Southern Command. Castro has also softened her stance on ending Honduras’ extradition treaty and military collaboration with the United States.

Under Castro’s leadership, Honduras has accepted its citizens deported from the U.S. and has served as a transit point for Venezuelans deported by the U.S., who are subsequently collected by Venezuela in Honduras.

Argentine President Javier Milei, a fervent supporter of Trump, expressed his endorsement of Tito Asfura in Honduras on Friday.

“I fully support Tito Asfura, who is the candidate best positioned to oppose the leftist tyrants that have devastated Honduras,” declared the libertarian president on his social media platform.